NEW: Job fair to help veterans, military spouses (Herald-Tribune) If you are a veteran or military spouse trying to get back into the civilian workforce or improve on your current job, a coalition of Southwest Florida groups has an event coming up with you in mind.

Four lessons learned by JPMorgan Chase in hiring veterans (Tampa Bay Business Journal) University of South Florida is in line for a $240,000 grant from JPMorgan Chase & Co. as part of the financial service firm’s $1 million investment in higher education programs for U.S. military veterans.

Bridge program helps veterans transition to the classroom (Eastern Progress) Eastern prides itself on being a military-veteran friendly campus. One of the ways Eastern likes to keep its veterans in mind is by giving them the opportunity to be in classes with other vets through a bridge program.

Veterans

PepsiCo holding benefit for veterans (Washington Post) PepsiCo Inc. is making a $1 million donation and streaming a live concert Friday to benefit injured military veterans and their families.

Start VA claims before end of active service (Camp Lejeune Globe) The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) mission at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune is to administer the joint Department of Defense (DOD)/VA Pre-Discharge Programs.

State officials reach out to meet every veteran in South Dakota (Rapid City Journal) The Capitol is a very busy place this time of year. Not only are legislators and lobbyists in town, but also interested citizens from all across the state – people who want to know more about the process or have a say in what’s being done in the Legislature. It’s like the indoor state fair.

Agent Orange linked to increased risk of skin cancer (Examiner.com) A new report adds to past evidence that risk of non-melanotic invasive skin cancer (NMISC) is increased even four decades after Agent Orange exposure, with at least some exposed veterans having unusually aggressive non-melanoma skin cancers.

Closer to home (The Pueblo Chieftain) Southern Colorado veterans have been lobbying for more than a decade to establish a new national cemetery in these parts.

Veterans’ groups disappointed in Obama on veteran benefits (The Washington Times) While President Obama talked about many initiatives to help veterans during his State of the Union address Tuesday night, veterans’ groups criticized him Wednesday for not demanding a full repeal of cuts to military retirement benefits.

State funded program mentors El Paso veterans (KFoxTV.com) The Department of Veterans Affairs recently released a report that shows suicides among young veterans just getting out of the military are three times higher than active-duty soldiers.